Niger: Cholera Outbreak - Jun 2012

Glide: EP-2012-000116-NER

Overview

As of 24 Jun 2012, 2,023 cases of cholera and 52 deaths had been registered, compared with 474 cases and 20 deaths in June 2011. The region of Tillabéri (Tera, Tillabéri, Kollo, Sai districts), which hosts refugees from Mali in several camps, was the most affected, with 2005 cases. The regions of Niamey, Dosso and Maradi had reported 18 cases including four deaths. (UNICEF, 25 Jun 2012)

From late August through September, 41 cases of cholera were reported from three villages in Burkina Faso's Sahel region, close to the Niger border, with 25 cases reported among the Nigerien population and 16 among the Burkinabe (UNICEF, 27 Sep 2012). In October, 77 cases and four deaths were reported; in November the numbers decreased to 10 cases and no deaths (UNICEF, 30 Nov 2012).

By the end of 2012, Niger had recorded 5,285 cases and 110 deaths, compared to 2,434 cases and 57 deaths in 2011. Tillabéry remained the most affected region with 4,792 cases and 87 deaths, followed by Tahoua with 471 cases and 18 deaths. Not a single case/death was recorded since January 2013. (OCHA, 6 Feb 2013)

In this issue, a general overview of outbreaks that occurred within the WHO African Region between January and July 2013 is provided as well as a summary of ongoing outbreaks as reported by Member States.

The number of dead from the Syria conflict continues to rise after new clashes across the country. Two
days of severe fighting on 30-31 January in the province of Idlib left 47 people dead. The
offensive by the Syrian army against opposition strongholds has continued with attacks and
fresh clashes in Southern Damascus, Aleppo, and the city of Homs. The number of Syrian
refugees continued to rise over the past week, amounting to a total of 733,196.

Last week a cold front with historically low temperatures and extreme weather conditions such as torrential rains and flash floods affected Asia and the Middle East. 420,000 people in China’s southwest Guizhou province, 10,000 in India, 2 million in Bangladesh as well as vulnerable populations in Nepal and Kyrgyzstan were affected by cold temperatures.

Seleka rebels in the Central African Republic have taken control of several towns and subsequent fighting has led to displacement and a deterioration of the already precarious humanitarian situation in the country.

An earthquake with magnitude 5.6 has hit South Khorasan province in Iran, killing at least eight people and injuring 12. As of 6 December, no further information on the impact is available. Typhoon Bopha has made landfall in the southern Philippines on 4 December, carrying winds of up to 160 kilometres an hour. More than 294,000 people have been affected in seven provinces, according to Government estimates. Severe rains have affected at least 6,500 people in Panama, prompting the Government of Panama to declare a state of emergency for the regions of La Chorrera, Capira and Colón.

Storm Bopha is heading toward southern Philippines as thousands of people are evacuating in high-risk areas. The storm is expected to intensify to a typhoon and will make landfall in Northern Mindanao late on Tuesday night. Severe rains have affected at least 6,500 people in Panama prompting the Government of Panama to declare a state of emergency for the regions of La Chorrera, Capira and Colón.

The situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, with heavy fighting in Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Deir al-Zor, Deraa as well as Idlib and Hama provinces.

More than 140,000 have been displaced in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after rebel group M23 gained control over the regional capital Goma and surrounding areas. Heavy fighting between rebels and the military continues to rage nationwide in Syria, primarily in Aleppo, Damascus and Deir al-Zor governorates. A recently published WFP assessment revealed that about 1.3 million people (25% of the total population) are considered food insecure in Kyrgyzstan, due to high food prices.

Gaza has been under attack since Wednesday, when Israel launched a military offensive with the declared goal of deterring fighters in the Palestinian enclave from launching rockets into its territory. 84 Palestinians have reportedly been killed. Violence erupted in the eastern provinces of DRC, following a months-long calm, with the rebel group M23 advancing on the regional capital of Goma. Heavy fighting between rebels and the military continues to rage nationwide in Syria, primarily in Idlib, Deir al-Zor, Damascus and Aleppo governorates.

Despite a four-day truce which was supposed to come into effect on Friday 26 October, fighting has continued to escalate in Damascus province, Aleppo, Idlib, Daara and Deir Ezzor in Syria manifested by a new wave of airstrikes by the Syrian forces and attacks by the rebels on strategic army checkpoints and air bases.

This week, renewed violence between Arakan Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims took place in Rahkin state in Myanmar, affecting an estimated 28,000 people. Sectarian violence between the two communities in June already left more than 75,000 people displaced. Despite a four-day truce that was supposed to come into effect on Friday 26 October, fighting has continued in Damascus province, Aleppo, Idlib, Daara and Deir Ezzor in Syria. The number of flood-affected people in Chad has risen to 700,000, up from 445,000 in September, with 16 of the country’s 22 regions affected.